Browns Preview 10/20/17: Tennessee Titans @ Cleveland Browns

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE

The winless Cleveland Browns host the Tennessee Titans this Sunday. The Browns will be starting rookie Quarterback DeShone Kizer. Kevin Hogan played terrible last week and sustained a rib injury. Cody Kessler will be Kizer's backup this week. The Titans will be starting Marcus Mariota after coming back from an injury last week in which he played well. The Titans defeated the Colts last week 36-22 to give themselves a 3-3 record.


Browns Offense vs Titans Defense

There is no question the Browns offense has had its struggles in the first six weeks of the season. The issues are simple. Inconsistent quarterback play, the lack of weapons at receiver, and Isaiah Crowell. The Browns this week and going forward should do a few things different.

First, get Duke Johnson more touches. Whether it is 15 rushes and another seven targets in the passing game. Duke Johnson need the ball. His the only reliable playmaker on this team. Now that doesn't mean Hue Jackson shouldn't use Crowell. Crowell should be used when they are running the ball straight up the middle in between the tackles.

The Browns offense also might want to tone it down with the deep ball. I understand the lack of playmakers makes it hard build drives but getting Kizer in second or third and long doesn't help anyone. With that being said, Kizer is still going to have to throw the ball down field to keep the defense honest.   

The final major key for the Browns this week is to trust Kizer. I know that might seem a bit difficult but Hue Jackson has no choice. The benching of Kizer was a knee-jerk reaction. And playing Hogan after a terrible first half was pain stubbornness by Hue. What ever happens Kizer needs to play through it. Yes, it could be another Baltimore game where he throws multiple interceptions but this was the hand Hue was dealt and how he played it.

The Titans defense is a middle of the road defense. This easily could be the week Kizer has a breakout game. But in order for the Browns offense to run their gameplan the Browns defense will need to keep the game close.



Browns Defense vs Titans Offense

The Titans will have Mariota at quarterback but is unlikely to have running back DeMarco Murray. Derrick Henry will likely get the start for the injured Murray. Henry and Murray have identical stats, both running for over 300 yards so far. Henry ran for 131 yards last week against the Colts and Mariota threw for 306 and one touchdown.

The Browns secondary might have some struggles against the receivers of the Titans. Rishard Matthews is their leading receiver with veteran Eric Decker lined up opposite of him. Where the Browns will have issues is covering Delanie Walker, who leads the Titans in catches.



Five Guys to Watch


1. DeShone Kizer: Kizer was benched last week and he had to suffer like the rest of us through a terrible game last Sunday. Hopefully Kizer response positively. And again let's all remember the kid is only 21 years old and has only played in three full games as crazy as that sounds.

2. Jamar Taylor: While Jason McCourty is having a really good year, Jamar Taylor on the other hand hasn't. The Titans will probably target Taylor most of the day and with Taylor dealing with an injury this could be bad news for the Browns.

3. Myles Garrett: With all the speculation of a new front office taking over and them constantly passing on franchise quarterbacks, the pick of Garrett at one has been a home run. Garrett in two games has put pressure on opposing quarterbacks, forcing turnovers and sacks. Garrett is one of the lone bright spots so far this season and he's only played in two games.

4. Duke Johnson: Like stated above, Johnson needs to get the ball a lot more. Of all the things I've had issues with offensively this season the limited touches by Duke is number one. He's the only guy on the field who can take a screen pass or a drag route for a touchdown. He's the lone playmaker on this team the Hue need to feed Duke more.

5. David Njoku: Outside of Johnson, Njoku has been a surprise. A lot of fans didn't think he would make this type of an impact on the team this early. But with is ablity to out run linebackers and out jump safeties, Njoku should be Kizer's favorite target this week in the redzone after have a lot of redzone issues the first five weeks of the season.


Injury Report

Weather Report

Betting Line (As of 10/19/17): Tennessee -6



Prediction: Titans 27 Browns 14

The Browns will fall to 0-7 on the year this week. It will become more and more difficult to defend Hue Jackson as season moves on. I expect Kizer to play better than he has but the lack of playmakers will really show this week. The defense should keep the game close but again like they have in weeks before give up a touchdown drive to put the game out of hand late in the fourth quarter.

NFL Draft Winners, Losers And Feel Good Stories

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE

The 2017 NFL Draft has come and gone. In a draft where we seen the most trades in draft history, a first round that basically set everyone's mock draft on fire, and the drafting of players that you can't help but root for. So I'm just going to keep it simple...Who are the winners and losers after the three day period we call the NFL draft.


Winners: (In no particular order)


1. San Francisco 49ers:

The 49ers traded down one spot with the Chicago Bears. They ended up getting Solomon Thomas from Stanford and two 3rd round picks and a fourth round pick. The crazy part is the 49ers were going to draft Thomas anyways, but the Bears wanted to ensure they could get their guy and traded up the one spot. The 49ers weren't done in the first round trading back up to 31st to take Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster. Foster was expected to go in the top 10-15 but a diluted drug sample and apparent red-flag on his shoulder during the combine dropped his stock. The 49ers also filled needs on the defensive back field taking Ahkello Witherspoon, a 6'3 cornerback out of Colorado in the second round.


2. Arizona Cardinals:

The Cardinals spent their first two picks in the draft on the defensive side of the ball. Linebacker Haason Reddick, out of Temple, was taken 13th overall and then Arizona decided to trade up in the second round and take Safety Budda Baker out of Washington. Reddick is a great story. The guy began his college career as a walk-on at Temple and ends up being the first linebacker taken in the draft. Baker is projected to come in start at safety after Tony Jefferson signed with the Ravens in the off-season. The Cardinals also spent two picks on their offensive line. Guard Dorin Johnson from Pittsburgh and Tackle Will Holden from Vanderbilt. Its unlikely both will make impacts in their rookie years but if one of them can come in a help protect 38 year old quarterback Carson Palmer the Cardinals could definitely be back in the playoff picture.


3. Indianapolis Colts:

If you told me safety Malik Hooker would fall to 15th overall, I would have thought you were crazy...but that's exactly what happened. Hooker to the Colts makes a ton of sense. The Colts defense has been one of, if not the main reason they've had struggles the past few seasons. With their second and third round picks the Colts went defense. Taking Quincy Wilson, a corner out of Florida and Defensive end/Outside linebacker Tarell Basham out of Ohio. And its not like the Colts didn't address the offensive side of the ball. They filled needs taking a offensive lineman Zach Banner out of USC and running back Marlon Mack out of South Florida.


4. Cleveland Browns:

My Cleveland Browns explanation will be its own article on Monday morning.


Losers


1. Cincinnati Bengals:

I just don't understand what they were thinking. They took John Ross receiver out of Washington, who broke the NFL combine record for fastest 40' time, 9th overall. Does it fit a need? Sure the Bengals lacked another playmaker next to AJ Green but they pasted on Haason Reddick, Johnathan Allen, and all of the top offensive linemen. After loosing their starting Left Tackle and Right Tackle in free agency. The Bengals took running back Joe Mixon from Oklahoma in the second round. Value wise it was a good pick, but it does seem like a questionable pick especially when the team has multiple players that have "character issues".


2. Chicago Bears:

The Bears started their draft trading up one pick and taking Quarterback Mitchell Trubisky out of North Carolina. Trubisky may turn out to be nice quarterback but...when you trade up for a quarterback and apparently not tell the Head Coach for your football team, it might not turn out to be good. The Bears took local product Adam Shaheen a tight end from Ashland University in the second round. Again its not like Trubisky is a bad quarterback prospect but it is confusing when you sign a quarterback for a lot of money in the off-season and then draft one with the top pick.











3. Tennessee Titans:

Personally I thought the pick for Corey Davis was a reach with Marshon Lattimore on the board. And then the Titans took Adoree' Jackson at 18th overall which was another potential reach. They did end up taking another receiver and a tight end in the third round which will definitely help out Mariota. But reaching in the first round is the only reason I have them in the losing section and even that's debatable I guess.





Feel Good Stories

There are two prospects I really want to mention because of their backstories:

First, Atlanta Falcons first round pick Takkarist McKinley a defensive out of UCLA. The guy achieved his dream and fulfilled a promise he made to his grandmother while on her death bed. He transferred to UCLA after one season at Contra Costa College in San Pablo, California. While going up on stage to accept his new jersey and to shake hands with Roger Goodell he carried with him a picture of his grandmother.

Last but certainly not least, the Pittsburgh Steelers third round pick James Conner, a running back out of Pittsburgh. Conner unfortunately tore his MCL at the beginning of the 2015 season. While rehabbing his knee injury, Conner was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. He ended up beating cancer and recovering from the MCL injury to play in the 2016 season including the first game of the season where he scored the game winning touchdown.

TV Tonight 10.27

By Raven Williams, @nevaRWilliams

NFL
NFL Thursday Night Kickoff (CBS/NFL Network, 8pm)
Jaguars @ Titans (NFL Network, 8:25pm)

NBA
Celtics @ Bulls (TNT, 8pm)
Clippers @ Trail Blazers (TNT, 10:30pm)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Virginia Tech @ Pittsburgh (ESPN, 7pm)
Ohio @ Toledo (CBS SportsNet, 7:30pm)
California @ USC (ESPN, 10:30pm)

=====

DC's Legends Of Tomorrow (The CW, 8pm)
Superstore (NBC, 8pm)
Grey's Anatomy (ABC, 8pm)
Rosewood (FOX, 8pm)
The Big Bang Theory (CBS, 8pm)
IMPACT Wrestling (POP, 8pm)
The Good Place (NBC, 8:30pm)
The Great Indoors (CBS, 8:30pm)

Chicago Med (NBC, 9pm)
Notorious (ABC, 9pm)
Pitch (FOX, 9pm)
Supernatural (The CW, 9pm)
Mom (CBS, 9pm)
Life In Pieces (CBS, 9:30pm)

The Blacklist (NBC, 10pm)
How To Get Away With Murder (ABC, 10pm)
Pure Genius (CBS, 10pm)
Better Things (FX, 10pm)
Falling Water (USA, 10pm)
The Almost Impossible Game Show (MTV, 10pm)
Acting Out (MTV, 10:30pm)
MTV Wonderland (MTV, 11pm)

On The Mark 10.17.16: Cleveland Browns @ Tennessee Titans Recap

Browns close, but still come up short in loss to Titans 28-26
By Mark West, @Markw2112

The Cleveland Browns remain win less in the 2016 season by losing to the Tennessee Titans 28-26 in Nashville.  However, there were more signs that perhaps the Browns aren't as far off to becoming a competitive team.

Starting in his third game, Cody Kessler continues to improve week after week, going 26-of-40 for 306 yards and 2 touchdowns. He was pressured all day long but still able to play at a high level.  He was helped by Terrelle Pryor who had 75 receiving yards and caught both touchdown passes, including 1 in double coverage.  The Browns made a game of it at the end with 2 touchdowns along with a recovered onside kick.  However, they missed the 2 point conversion before the onside kick then were not able to recover a second onside kick, assuring victory to the Titans.

The biggest issue on offense continued to be the running game, with Isaiah Crowell only rushing for 16 yards on 9 carries.  The offensive line, which has been decimated by injury, couldn't get the holes for the running backs nor protect Kessler very well, giving up 6 sacks and allowing Kessler to be hit 5 more times.

Marcus Mariota also had a very solid game for the Titans, going 17-of-24 for 284 yards, 3 touchdowns and an interception.  His biggest pass was to Kenny Wright, who dove for the ball, caught it, then staggered in for the touchdown since the defenders were almost 10 yards from him.  It was not a good day for the Browns secondary who were scorched multiple times by Mariota and his receivers, especially Wright and Rishard Matthews, who had 70 yards receiving a touchdown.  

On a better note, the Browns were able to contain Demarco Murray to 65 yards rushing on 21 attempts.  The longest run attempt they gave up was to Mariota who ran for 41 yards to start the game.  The game also saw Emmanuel Ogbah and Danny Shelton record the first sacks of their careers.

My take:  The Browns, while still without a win, are improving.  Hue Jackson has them playing scrappy and tough.  Cody Kessler, who Jackson said to "trust" him on when he was drafted, has proven to be a young leader at quarterback.  He has improved week after week and while he was hit hard many times on Sunday afternoon, he got back up and almost led the Browns to an improbable tie with 2 touchdown drives at the end of the game.  It's exactly what the Browns have been searching for the last 18 seasons.  The biggest issue for the Browns continues to be the patch work offensive line, with Cam Erving, just coming back from bruised lung, looking lost and allowed Kessler to be hit several times with bad blocking.  The other issue is the young secondary, who continue to give up big plays which cost the Browns the game.  But you can see that there are marked improvements from last year.  It is still a work in progress.

Player of the game:  Cody Kessler, with his 306 yards and 2 touchdowns.  He looks to be a keeper with his accuracy and smart play.

Next Up:  Next Sunday at 1 P.M., the Browns travel to Cincinnati to play the Bengals for the first time this year.  It's the first trip back for Hue Jackson since becoming the Browns head coach.

Browns Preview: Cleveland Browns @ Tennessee Titans

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE

The (0-5) Cleveland Browns travel to Nashville to take on the Tennessee Titans who are (2-3). The Browns got blown out last week against the New England Patriots 33-13.  While the Titans won in Miami verse the Dolphins 30-17. The Browns will be starting rookie quarterback Cody Kessler this week, even though he is recovering from a rib/chest injury that took him out of the game last week.


Browns Offense Vs Titans Defense

The Browns are going to continue to run the ball this week. Isaiah Crowell was the leading rusher going for 22 yards on 13 carries. Yes, he and the run game overall was terrible but the Browns had to play catch up with Charlie Whitehurst at quarterback. Also Joel Bitonio was hurt during second half and unfortunately he will be out for a few weeks. But back to this week, Crowell and Duke Johnson should be able to have success like the first four weeks. The Titans are ranked 14th in the NFL in rush defense giving up just under 100 yards per game. They are also 20th in yards per rushes with 4.2 yards per carry.

Cody Kessler will be starting at quarterback this week with either Josh McCown or rookie Kevin Hogan as the backup. The Browns might struggle in the pass game for a number of reasons. First off the Titans are ranked 9th in the NFL in passing defense (222 yards per game). They are also tied for 5th in interceptions with six on the year. The Titans are also tied for 9th in the sack category with 12, which doesn't fair well for the Browns since their offensive line is going to be lacking their left guard.

Another reason the passing game might struggle is Kessler's injury. Even though the play calling will likely be the same with "slants, quick outs, and check downs". It remains to be seen if Kessler can make those throws with the injury, and be able to take a hit while reading a defense.

How the Browns can have success is fairly simple and its the same game plan every week. Control the clock. In the games they were in, mainly against the Ravens, Dolphins, and Redskins, the Browns did a great job running the ball and keeping the opposing team's offense off the field. The other key for the Browns to have success is to NOT turn the ball over. Turnovers killed them against the Ravens and Redskins. But if they win the turn over battle the Browns might sneak out of Nashville with a win. Its going to be a tough task but from what we've seen from Hue Jackson so far, the Browns will be prepared this week.


Browns Defense vs Titans Offense

This is were the game could get a little lopsided. The Titans are really good at running the ball and the Browns aren't that good at stopping it. The Titans rushing attack is headlined by DeMarco Murray, who is second in the NFL in rushing yards with 461 yards and also has three touchdowns. But its not just Murray in the run game, Derrick Henry spells Murray at times for short yardage plays, and Quarterback Marcus Mariota has 132 rushing yards on 20 attempts and a touchdown. The Browns will need to sell out to stop the run and keep a linebacker in during passing downs to spy on Mariota.

The passing offense isn't that great. They average 209 yards through the air, which is 28th in the NFL. The Titans use DeMarco Murray as a pass catcher a ton. He leads the team in catches with 24. They also have a top tier tight end in Delanie Walker who has 16 catches for 225 yards and 2 touchdowns.    The Browns have had a tough time covering opponents tight ends this year and one of the keys of the Browns to get this win is to stop Walker. Stopping Walker will force the check down passes to Murray and force the Titans' wide receivers (Andre Johnson, Rishard Matthews, Tajae Sharpe) to beat them. Let's hope Joe Haden's injury doesn't prevent him from playing because the Browns really need him this week.


Five Guys To Watch

Isaiah Crowell: Crowell had his first bad game of the year, if he can put it behind him and ball out this game...it will really show the growth of him and this team in general.

Andrew Hawkins: The Titans will try and take away Terrelle Pryor and Gary Barnidge so Andrew Hawkins has a great opportunity to ball out. Hawkins and Kessler seem to have some chemistry going whether its in the red zone like last week, or with drag and out routes like in previous weeks.

Danny Shelton: Shelton is the nose of the defense and he will need to set the tone in the run defense. If Shelton has a bad game then the Browns don't have a chance to stop the run which will result in the Browns losing.

DeMario Davis: Davis is one of the leaders on this team and has played really well. Davis is going to be important not just in the run game, but in the pass game. Not just covering Murray or Walker but spying on Mariota which might be the most important job.

Hue Jackson: Yes the head coach is someone we should watch. The Browns do a solid job in the first half of games, but struggle during the second half. I'm going to watch out for second half adjustments by the Browns and hopefully they can get points because of them. Also, the Art Briles controversy or whatever, I''m curious to see how he handles "on field" stuff with all the "off field' surrounding him. Also Jackson is running out of winnable games and another loss could be one step closer to "losing" this team. I don't think that would happen, but starting 0-6 isn't a good look...even if its in a rebuilding year. This team needs an actual victory not a moral one.

Injury Report
Weather Report
Betting Line: Tennessee -7

Prediction: 28-24 Titans

My heart wants to pick the Browns, but my head says no. It will be a watchable game, but a late turnover by the Browns will shift momentum to the Titans. Kessler will play like he has in his first three games. And I think Crowell will have a bounce back game, but the Browns won't be able to come back from adversity in this game which will result in a loss. 0-6 sucks but we will be one week close to the end of the year and the draft in April. Also the Cavs start in two weeks, Ohio State is arguably the best team in the nation, and the Indians are in the ALCS...so don't feel bad Browns fans, stay positive!!!

Leadoff with Lee 4.15.16

By Chris Lee, @TripleThreatLee

After a blockbuster trade between the LA Rams and the Tennessee Titans, Cleveland sports radio and Browns Twitter were LIT! The details of the trade are as follows....

Apparently, the quarterback the Rams want is Carson Wentz, as multiple outlets are reporting that the North Dakota State passer was the target of the trade talks from the Rams.

But wouldn't the local California Golden Bears' QB Jared Goff make more sense for the Rams? The Rams had multiple visits scheduled next week with projected top 15 prospects. They have canceled those for obvious reasons. The Rams worked out Carson Wentz and Jared Goff back in February and have their future quarterback in the crosshairs.

As expected, the Sacramento Kings have fired coach George Karl. The Kings are 33-48 heading into their final game and haven't reached the playoffs in 10 straight seasons. There is no reason to feel bad for Karl who has $10 million in guaranteed money left on his original four-year, $15 million contract.

Randy Wittman will return as coach of the Washington Wizards. The team announced Thursday that it would not pick up its option on Wittman's contract. Wittman was informed of the news Wednesday night, when the Wizards' season ended with a victory over the Atlanta Hawks. With a team built around All-Star point guard John Wall, and a roster set up to make a bid for Kevin Durant as a free agent this offseason, Washington finished at .500 with 41-41 record.

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Percy Harvin has informed the team he is retiring. Harvin, 27, signed a one-year, $6 million contract with the Bills back in March of last year after the Jets released him. Over the course of his seven years in the NFL, Harvin totaled 515 receptions for 4,020 yards receiving to go along with 916 yards rushing on 145 carries (6.3 YPC) and 27 total touchdowns.

The 2016-17 NFL schedule was released and the Cleveland Browns play five of first seven games on the road. Also notable, their bye week isn't until week 13, (weekend of Dec. 4), the latest allowable by the schedule makers. I'm not going to play the schedule game, but I'll let you decide their record for yourself.

The Seattle Storm selected Breanna Stewart with the first pick of the 2016 WNBA draft. The UConn star averaged 19.4 points on 58 percent overall shooting and 43 percent shooting from the 3-point line this season. She blocked 126 shots (3.4 per game), recorded 147 assists and amassed 8.7 rebounds per game for the Huskies while leading her team to their fourth consecutive Women's NCAA championship. Stewart is expected to make the 2016 United States Olympic team. The WNBA pauses it's season this summer from July 23 to Aug. 25 to accommodate the 2016 Rio Olympics.

TV Tonight 11.19

By @nevaRWilliams

NFL
NFL Thursday Night Kickoff (NFL Network, 8pm)
Titans @ Jaguars (NFL Network, 8:25pm)

NBA
Bucks @ Cavaliers (TNT, 8pm)
Warriors @ Clippers (TNT, 10:30pm)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL
East Carolina @ Central Florida (ESPN, 7:30pm)

NHL
Blue Jackets @ Senators (FOX Sports Cincinnati, 7:30pm)

COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Rutgers @ St. John's (FOX Sports 1, 7pm)
Texas Tech @ Utah (ESPN 2, 7pm)
Iowa @ Marquette (FOX Sports 1, 9pm)
Bradley vs. Virginia (ESPN 2, 9:30pm)

=====

Heroes Reborn (NBC, 8pm)
Grey's Anatomy (ABC, 8pm)
Bones (FOX, 8pm)
The Big Bang Theory (CBS, 8pm)
WWE SmackDown (SyFy, 8pm)
The Vampire Diaries (The CW, 8pm)
Life In Pieces (CBS, 8:30pm)

The Blacklist (NBC, 9pm)
Scandal (ABC, 9pm)
Sleepy Hollow (FOX, 9pm)
Mom (CBS, 9pm)
The Originals (The CW, 9pm)
2 Broke Girls (CBS, 9:30pm)

The Player (NBC, 10pm)
How To Get Away With Murder (ABC, 10pm)
Elementary (CBS, 10pm)
Haven (SyFy, 10pm)
Benders (IFC, 10pm)
Nathan For You (Comedy Central, 10pm)
Ridiculousness (MTV, 10pm)
Broke A$$ Game Show (MTV, 10:30pm)
The Middle Of The Night Show (MTV, 11pm)

On The Mark 9.21.15: #Browns v. #Titans Recap

Manziel, Benjamin and the defense shine in Browns to a 28-14 victory over Tennessee Titans
By @MarkW2112

It was the home opener for the Cleveland Browns at First Energy Stadium today. And what a game it was. The Browns beat the Tennessee Titans 28-14 on what was probably one of the most exciting home openers in a long time, thanks to the play of Johnny Manziel, Travis Benjamin and the entire defense.

Manziel, in only his third career start, only completed 8 passes and threw for 158 yards but 115 of those yards were on 2 touchdown passes to Benjamin, one at the start of the game and the other to end it. In between, Benjamin also had a 78 yard punt return for a touchdown, which included a highlight leap over the punter who had fallen to the turf. Benjamin ended the day with 269 total yards from scrimmage. Isaiah Crowell had the other touchdown while rushing for 72 yards on 15 carries.

After having a record breaking game last week, Marcus Mariota came down to earth against the Browns. He was sacked 7 times, hit many more times and was under pressure from the Browns almost the entire game. He was able to settle himself down to throw for 2 touchdowns and get the Titans to within a touchdown with 6 minutes left in the game. The Browns defense, however, was too much for him to recover from a horrible start. He finished 21 of 37 for 257 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Titans rushers, lead by Dexter McCluster's 98, did run for 166 yards but was really not a factor in the game. It was an awesome display of defensive power that was sorely lacking against the New York Jets last week.

My thoughts: It's time for the Browns to give the reigns to Johnny Manziel. While he did lose the ball twice (recovered both times by the Browns), he showed that he has made some leaps and bounds over his disastrous rookie season. His chemistry with Travis Benjamin is apparent. Mike Pettine has the tough job of making the decision to go with the veteran Josh McCown or run with Manziel to see what they have in their young quarterback. The defense made a huge comeback from last week, with 7 sacks, more than any single game last year. Marcus Mariota was not going throw another perfect game 2 weeks in a row and he looked more like a rookie today. That said, his upside is huge and he will be a force for years to come.

Player of the game: Travis Benajmin. He became the first NFL player to have 2 touchdown over 50 yards in one game as well his 78 yard touchdown punt return.

Honorable mentions: Johnny Manziel, with his 2 touchdown passes to Benjamin and his continued growth, and the Browns defense, who harassed Marcus Mariota and the offense more often than not.

Play of the game: Manziel's first touchdown pass to Benjamin in the Browns first offensive position.

Turning point: Manziel's second touchdown pass to Benjamin which clinched the game for the Browns. It was the type of play that he made famous at Texas A&M.

Fun fact: Travis Benjamin is the 1st NFL player with four 50+ yard TDs in first 2 games of a season since Jim Brown in 1963.

Next game: Next Sunday, the 28th, against the Oakland Raiders, at First Energy Field at 1 PM on CBS and The Browns Radio Network.

#Browns Preview 9.18.15: Tennessee #Titans @ Cleveland Browns

Is This A Must Win Game?
By @mrgroce

Yes, I know it is extremely early, but in my humble opinion this week's Browns-Titans game is a must win for the Cleveland Browns. Not because I believe that a loss will hurt their chances of winning the division *inserts loud laughter*, but because if Tennessee leaves FirstEnergy Stadium with a victory, the team and fan base might just give up on the season before we get to October. I don't think any of us felt we would see the team winning 10 or more games this season, but after winning seven games last season we wanted to see improvements in coaching, game planning, preparation, game management, and overall player production. Well, none of that was evident in week one. Poor quarterback play, penalties, and turnovers prevented us from seeing what the team truly looks like.

Josh McCown coming off of a concussion he suffered against the Jets, as of Thursday has yet to practice this week. Johnny Manziel has taken all of the first team practice reps, and has officially been named the starter for Sunday's game. It was rumored that if McCown was able to participate in Friday's practice, he would've started on Sunday. McCown only played in one series last Sunday but he did an excellent job of moving the offense down the field until he went out with an injury. The offensive line didn't protect or open any holes for the running backs. The defense which was at full strength had a terrible day and must now prepare to face rookie Marcus Mariota who is coming off a game in which he threw four touchdowns in his debut. Everyone has said the "right" things this week such as"we gotta play better" and "we have to take care of the ball". Safety Donte Whitner even went as far as apologizing to the fans for the team's performance.

Last week I said that neither team, Browns or Jets, were good enough to overcome turnovers and penalties. Unfortunately the Browns chose to be the team to prove me right. This week I'm predicting a Browns win at home. I believe the defense is mad and coaches have probably been drilling in their heads all week how well Mariota played in his first game. I like Mariota and I love his quick decision making, but now a team has real game film on him and with a week to prepare I think the Browns will keep pressure on him. I don't believe it really matters who starts between Josh or Johnny, if they limit the turnovers to under two, the offense should do just enough to pull out a low scoring win.

Receiver Dwayne Bowe who is on pace to make his Browns debut gives the quarterbacks a bigger target to throw to, but these offenses are pretty even. Terence West returns with revenge on his mind, but Bishop Sankey will get the bulk of the workload in the Titans backfield. Kendall Wright and Joe Haden will be the key CB/WR matchup. Haden "should" have the advantage there, but with him you have to take it game by game. I have the Browns winning a close one: 17-16

What: Cleveland Browns vs Tennessee Titans
When: Sunday 1:00 PM
Where: FirstEnergy Stadium Cleveland, Ohio
TV/Radio: CBS, WKNR Cleveland 850, WKRK Cleveland 92.3 The Fan, WNCX 98.5

TV Tonight 8.23

By @nevaRWilliams

NFL
Preseason: Rams @ Titans (FOX, 8pm)

MLB
Giants @ Pirates (ESPN, 8pm)

MMA & BOXING
UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Oliveira - Prelims (FOX Sports 1, 7pm)
UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Oliveira (FOX Sports 1, 9pm)

LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL
World Series, Double Elimination: TBA (ESPN 2, 7pm)

====

Talking Dead, Season 6 Preview Special (AMC, 8pm)
Show Me A Hero, Parts Three & Four (HBO, 8pm)
Hollywood Game Night (NBC, 8pm)
Bachelor In Paradise (ABC, 8pm)
Big Brother (CBS, 8pm)

Fear The Walking Dead SERIES PREMIERE (AMC, 9pm)
American Ninja Warrior (NBC, 9pm)
Ray Donovan (Showtime, 9pm)
Bar Rescue (SPIKE, 9pm)
The Last Ship (TNT, 9pm)

Katrina: 10 Years After The Storm, With Robin Roberts (ABC, 10pm)
Ballers SEASON FINALE (HBO, 10pm)
Masters Of Sex (Showtime, 10pm)
The Strain (FX, 10pm)
Falling Skies (TNT, 10pm)
The Brink (HBO, 10:30pm)
Last Week Tonight (HBO, 11pm)

TV Tonight 12.18

By @nevaRWilliams

NBA
The Grantland Basketball Hour (ESPN, 7 PM)
Knicks @ Bulls (TNT, 8 PM)
Thunder @ Warriors (TNT, 10:30 PM)

NFL
Titans @ Jaguars (NFL Network, 8:25 PM)

COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Cleveland State @ Virginia (ESPNU, 7 PM)
Connecticut vs. Duke (ESPN, 8 PM)

COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL
NCAA Tournament, First Semifinal: BYU vs. Texas (ESPN 2, 7 PM)
NCAA Tournament, Second Semifinal: Penn State vs. Stanford (ESPN 2, 9:30 PM)

NHL
Capitals @ Blue Jackets (FOX Sports Ohio, 7 PM)
Avalanche @ Penguins (NHL Network, 7 PM)

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The iHeartradio Jingle Ball 2014 (The CW, 8 PM)
The Biggest Loser (NBC, 8 PM)
The Taste (ABC, 8 PM)
Mom (CBS, 8:30 PM)

People Magazine Awards (NBC, 9 PM)
White Collar, SERIES FINALE (USA, 9 PM)
Two And A Half Men (CBS, 9 PM
Party Down South (CMT, 9 PM)
The McCarthys (CBS, 9:30 PM)

Elementary (CBS, 10 PM)
Covert Affairs, SEASON FINALE (USA, 10 PM)
Slednecks (MTV, 10 PM)

TV Tonight 11.17

By @nevaRWilliams

NFL
Monday Night Countdown (ESPN, 6 PM)
Steelers @ Titans (ESPN, 8:15 PM)

NBA
Nuggets @ Cavaliers (FOX Sports Ohio/NBA TV, 7 PM)
Bulls @ Clippers (NBA TV, 10:30 PM)

COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Miami @ Florida (ESPNU, 7 PM)
Maryland-Eastern Shore @ Villanova (FOX Sports 1, 7 PM)
Georgia State @ Iowa State (ESPNU, 9 PM)
Binghamton @ Providence (FOX Sports 1, 9 PM)
Detroit Mercy @ Oregon (ESPNU, 11 PM)
SMU @ Gonzaga (ESPN 2, 11 PM)

WOMEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Baylor @ Kentucky (ESPN 2, 7 PM)
Connecticut @ Stanford (ESPN 2, 9 PM)

NHL
2014 Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (NHL Network, 7 PM)

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WWE Raw (USA, 8 PM)
The Voice (NBC, 8 PM)
Dancing With The Stars (ABC, 8 PM)
Gotham (FOX, 8 PM)
2 Broke Girls (CBS, 8 PM)
The Originals (The CW, 8 PM)
The Millers (CBS, 8:30 PM)

Sleepy Hollow (FOX, 9 PM)
American Dad (TBS, 9 PM)
Scorpion (CBS, 9 PM)
Jane The Virgin (The CW, 9 PM)

State of Affairs (NBC, 10 PM)
Castle (ABC, 10 PM)
NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS, 10 PM)
Anger Management (FX, 10 & 10:30 PM)
Mike Tyson Mysteries (Cartoon Network, 10:30 PM)

On The Mark 10.6: #Browns & #Buckeyes Recaps

Blow Out By The Bucks & Amazing Comeback By The Browns
By @MarkW2112

For this weeks On The Mark, I will be recapping both the Buckeyes and Browns in one article!

First, the Buckeyes.  Ohio State made quick work of the Maryland Terrapins with a 52-24 blow out in College Park.  J.T. Barrett is opening eyes all over with his poise and precision, going 18-of-23 for 267 yards and 4 touchdowns.  Ezekiel Elliot lead all rushers with 139 yards on 24 carries.  Barrett ran for 71 yards and a touchdown to go along with his impressive throwing yards.

The defense was mostly solid with 4 interceptions.  Maryland was never really in it and while C.J. Brown started the game, Caleb Rowe came in the second half to try and spark their offense.  And while they were able to get 24 points, it seemed the Bucks offense were always able to respond with a touchdown of their own.  The Buckeyes, as expected, were the better team all around, a nice way to go in to another off week with their first Big Ten win.

As for the Browns, all you can say is perhaps these are the 2014 version of the Kardiac Kids.  The Browns defense were as bad as they have been the first 3 games, giving Jake Locker a ton of time to throw the ball and providing holes for their running backs to scoot through for big yards.  One of those runs by Locker was for a touchdown, in which he was hit in the helmet by Chris Kirksey.  This hit had an effect not only on Locker, but his teammates for the rest of the game which killed themselves with penalties later on.  Locker was knocked out of the game for good after hitting his throwing hand on Buster Skrine's helmet who was then penalized for roughing the passer.  Enter Charlie Whitehurst, who then threw a touchdown to Kendall Wright.  Whitehurst,before the end of the first half, threw a 75 yard touchdown to Justin Hunter, who beat Skrine by a long mile to make it 28-3.  The offense also couldn't get it going though were able to get a touchdown for a 28-10 deficit before halftime.  That's when the real fun began.

Brian Hoyer, 21-of-37 for 292 yards passing, is proving that he belongs as the Browns starting quarterback, leading back from 25 points down, which is not only a Browns record but a road team record.  Travis Benjamin had both touchdowns for the Browns in the second half, including the game tying TD with 1:09 seconds left in the game.  Ben Tate throughout was a beast, rushing for 123 yards on 22 carries.  The other big play of the second half was a blocked punt by Tank Carder, making the game 28-15.  The safety was a huge turning point for the team as the Browns defense buckled down in order for Hoyer to lead his offense back.  It was a thrilling win for a franchise in desperate need of wins.

My take: the Bucks are on their way to winning their Big 10 division while the Browns are still in the thick of the AFC North division with this huge comeback win today.  To go along with the Cavs first preseason game, it was a great weekend for Cleveland sports fans.  That said, the Browns defense needs a lot more work.  If Locker had not been knocked out of the game, it could have been a loss for the Browns.  But a win is a win.

Up next: the Buckeyes are idle next weekend while the Browns play the hated Steelers in Cleveland next Sunday.  It would be nice if the Browns could put together a full game.